President Donald Trump today delivered a key speech at the Arabic Islamic American Summit. Read the full text of the address here.
President Donald Trump today delivered a key speech at the Arabic Islamic American Summit, calling on leaders of Muslim-majority nations to join together in the fight against extremism.
Trump in his speech argued that the fight against ISIS is not a battle between faiths.
“This is not a battle between different faiths, different sects, or different civilizations, ” Trump said.. “This is a battle between good and evil.”
In contrast to some of Trump’s campaign rhetoric, the president today referred to Islam as “one of the world’s great faiths.” He also made the point that many of the victims of terrorist attacks carried out by extremist groups are themselves Muslim.
“ [I] n sheer numbers, the deadliest toll has been exacted on the innocent people of Arab, Muslim and Middle Eastern nations, ” Trump said. “They have borne the brunt of the killings and the worst of the destruction in this wave of fanatical violence. Some estimates hold that more than 95 percent of the victims of terrorism are themselves Muslim.”
During the campaign trail, Donald Trump frequently criticized Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama for not using the phrase “radical Islamic terrorism.” In his speech today, Trump called for unity but still did refer to “Islamist extremism” and “Islamist terror groups.”
However, Trumps said that these terrorists are falsely invoking the name of God when they carry out their attacks.
“Every time a terrorist murders an innocent person, and falsely invokes the name of God, it should be an insult to every person of faith, ” Trump said. “Terrorists do not worship God, they worship death.”
Trump also urged leaders of Muslim-majority nations to drive terrorists out of their country.
“A better future is only possible if your nations drive out the terrorists and extremists, ” Trump said. “Drive. Them. Out. DRIVE THEM OUT of your places of worship. DRIVE THEM OUT of your communities. DRIVE THEM OUT of your holy land, and DRIVE THEM OUT OF THIS EARTH.”
Here is the full text of Donald Trump’s speech in Saudi Arabia via The White House:
